Shipping Container Homes: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Shipping container homes are providing people with a way to live large in tiny dwellings. Either you love it or hate it; there’s no in-between.
Step aside, cookie-cutter houses. Shipping container homes are providing people with a way to live large in tiny dwellings. You can take or leave the white picket fence.
Currently, there are around 17 million shipping containers in the world. Only 6 million of these containers are actually in use for shipping large items. This means that there are approximately 11 million containers just sitting around, unused.
Shipping container homes have sprung up throughout the country as affordable, eco-friendly housing options. From primary residences to off-the-grid escapes, these steel boxes are redefining the comforts of home.
Shipping container homes range in price anywhere from $7,000 to $70,000 on sites like eBay and Amazon. The price, of course, depends upon aesthetics, customization, and other add-ons.
One couple, Stephanie and Clark Evans, built a shipping container home for their family of four in the Chicago suburbs. They turned seven, 15-year-old containers into a 3,200-square-foot home.
Initially, the idea was not necessarily well-received.
“In the beginning, people just didn’t understand it, and no one 100 percent supported it,” Stephanie said. “But as progression goes on, a lot of people who hesitated about it at first started to come on board. People came to see it for what it was, and not just an extravagant trash can.”
Once the house was complete, it was met with many reviews. Perhaps Evans and other shipping container dwellers are ahead of their time.
“This house is so forward-thinking,” Clark said. “We just went rogue. Instead of going downstream, we headed upstream, and people are blown away by it… Either you love it or hate it; there’s no in-between.”
We provide competitive freight shipping prices and an all-inclusive, easy-to-use shipping experience for our customers. Exceeding our customers’ expectations results in thousands of satisfied customer reviews and repeat business. We believe in the power of our customer relationships. Check out FreightCenter reviews from real customers, and learn what they have to say about their freight shipping experience!
- 2021 Food Logistics’ Top Green Providers
- 2021 & 2018 Supply & Demand Chain Executives' Pros to Know: Matthew Brosious
- 2020 & 2019 Top Food Logistics’ 3PL & Cold Storage Provider Award
- 2020 & 2019 Business Observer’s Top 500 Companies on the Gulf Coast
- 2020 & 2017 SmartWay® Transport Partner
- 2020 & 2017 Food Logistics’ Champions: Rock Stars of the Supply Chain
- 2020 Best of Palm Harbor Awards for Local Businesses
- 2017 Green Supply Chain Award from Supply & Demand Chain Executive
- 2017 Tampa Bay Business Journal Heroes at Work
- 2016, 2015, & 2012 Food Logistics Top 100 Software and Technology Providers
- 2013 Tampa Bay Business 100 by Tampa Bay Business Journal
- 2013 Top 100 Great Supply Chain Partners by SupplyChainBrain
- 2012 TIA Samaritan Award Honorable Mention
Shipping Container Homes: The Good
–Eco-friendly: Building a container home is a way to upcycle something that would otherwise be lying around. Additionally, you’re not requiring lumber, as you would if you were to build a traditional home.
–Affordable: The price point of these homes makes them a great option for people trying to get a hold of their finances.
–Unique: No two shipping container homes are alike. Each container comes with dings, scratches, and marks that tell a story. They have character.
–Movable: Naturally, shipping containers are easy to move, making them a good option for people who move frequently but want to keep their same house.
–Off-site construction: These homes can be built off-site, meaning they are move-in ready upon delivery.
–Quick: These homes can be built very quickly. For example, Diemen, a city in Holland, built a block of 250 shipping container homes in less than twelve weeks!
To create value for our customers by delivering customized shipping solutions that meet their unique needs and to fulfill shipping demands from simple to complex with expertise, guidance and ingenuity.
LTL shipping involves combining multiple small shipments from different customers onto one truck, allowing each customer to share the shipment cost. Trust the experts at FreightCenter to give you the best prices and the most comprehensive options for all your LTL freight shipping needs.
Truckload shipping, also known as full truckload (FTL), is a transportation option for freight that requires the entire trucks trailer space. Unlike LTL shipping, FTL shipping is reserved for larger commodities that exceed LTL weight and size limits, typically weighing more than 20,000 pounds or having dimensions that exceed 12 feet in length, 8 feet in width, and 8 feet in height. We deliver optimized solutions for full or partial truckloads and competitive dry van, flatbed, and refrigerated freight pricing. We can cover your full truckload shipping needs.
Nationwide Expedited Trucking services move your freight securely and rapidly. Your freight requires fast delivery; our freight shipping experts can get your shipment fast, whether in one large box or a full truckload.
Specialized is a transportation option for items that require specialized handling, equipment, or shipping conditions. Specialized shipments may include high-value cargo, oversized cargo, or cargo that require temperature-controlled transportation. The most reliable Specialized Freight Services rates from all the top carriers are just a few steps away. From white glove service to international shipping, we've got you covered.
Shipping Container Homes: The Bad
–Size: While you can put multiple shipping containers together, there is a limit to the shape and size of each container.
–Haters: Not everyone is going to see your vision.
–Building permits and codes: These regulations can be frustrating, but are necessary steps whether you’re building a traditional or a container home. Just remember that the same rules apply.
–Finding contractors: Many people want to DIY build their own container homes, but lack the necessary skills. Finding contractors to do the job can be a daunting task.
Shipping Container Homes: The Ugly
–Shipping containers will always look like, well, shipping containers. You can dress it up, but at the end of the day, you have to like the industrial look and small space.
Final Thoughts
All things considered, we think shipping containers are a very cool way to use steel boxes that would otherwise sit around unused. While there are cons, there are plenty of benefits for those brave enough to try this new type of housing. Would you live in a container home?
If you’re thinking about buying a shipping container to use as your new home, don’t forget, FreightCenter now ships homes! Give our experienced shipping agents a call today at 800-716-7608.
Guaranteed competitive pricing every time you ship.
